Sinema relying on moderate approach, keeps distance from Schumer

By KTAR.com | July 8, 2018 at 11:53 amUPDATED: July 8, 2018 at 1:31 pm

U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., delivers her signatures to Arizona Director of Elections Eric Spencer at the Arizona Secretary of State's office Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at the Capitol in Phoenix. Sinema is officially running as a Democrat for U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Jeff Flake. Women running for office have crossed another threshold with a record number of candidates for the U.S. Senate. In the two major parties, 42 women are expected to have qualified for 19 Senate seats. (AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX – An Arizona Senate candidate, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), is distancing herself from one of the parties most prominent and high ranking officials.

Although Schumer is seen as a polarizing figure in the Democratic party, Sinema’s position on the senator is more opposing than most members in the Democratic caucus.

Since Sinema has aligned herself closely with other Democrats such as Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), Republicans such as Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) are skeptical that Sinema’s votes would cross party lines if she lands the open Senate seat.

Sinema, who is a three-term member of the House of Representatives, is banking her campaign on strong bi-partisan relationships with Republicans and moderate Democrats.

Historically, Sinema has been able to cross party lines successfully beginning in 2000 as an activist for Ralph Nader’s presidential campaign as a member of the Green Party.

The Senate seat that she is running for became open after the announcement of Senator Jeff Flake’s (R-Ariz.) retirement. Poll numbers have indicated that Sinema is a favorite to flip that seat from red to blue.

Sinema is being challenged by three Republicans: Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Dr. Kelli Ward, and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Schumer has privately backed Sinema before she had even announced her intent to run for the seat. Sinema is the only Democrat running for the open Senate seat.